“Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My!” Quiz

Question: When are lions most active?

Answer: Lions are most active at night and live in a variety of habitats but prefer grassland, savanna, dense scrub, and open woodland.

Question: What is the only bear species to live south of the Equator?

Answer: The spectacled bear of the South American Andes Mountains is the only species that lives south of the Equator.

Question: What is the smallest bear species?

Answer: The sun bear  (Helarctos malayanus) is the smallest bear species, often weighing less than 50 kg (110 pounds).

Question: How long do lions live in captivity?

Answer: In captivity, lions may live over 25 years.

Question: How many tigers are left in the wild?

Answer: The world’s tiger population has declined to about 3,200 tigers since the beginning of the 21st century. A century earlier, the same population was estimated at 100,000. The Indian, or Bengal, tiger makes up about half the total tiger population.

Question: The year of the tiger occurs how often in the Chinese calendar?

Answer: Every 12th year of the Chinese calendar  is the year of the tiger, and children born in it are considered especially lucky and powerful. 

Question: Which is the largest member of the cat family?

Answer: The tiger is the largest member of the cat family (Felidae), rivaled only by the lion in strength and ferocity.

Question: How long do tigers live in the wild?

Answer: The average lifespan of a tiger in the wild is about 11 years.

Question: What sense do bears rely on for hunting?

Answer: Bears’ senses of sight and hearing are poorly developed, and most hunting is done by smell. 

Question: How long do lions live in the wild?

Answer: In the wild, lions usually live no more than 8 to 10 years because of attacks by humans or other lions, or the effects of goring or kicks from intended prey.

Question: Which kind of tiger accounts for about half of the total tiger population?

Answer:  The Indian, or Bengal, tiger (P. tigris tigris) is the most numerous and accounts for about half of the total tiger population.

Question: Which is not true about lions’ manes?

Answer: All lions’ manes do not look the same. Manes make male lions look larger than they really are, which may function to intimidate rivals and impress prospective mates. Manes vary from one lion to another and may be entirely absent.

Question: How many species of bears are there?

Answer: Bears include eight species of large short-tailed carnivores found in the Americas, Europe, and Asia. 

Question: What is the largest bear species?

Answer: The polar bear  (Ursus maritimus) is the largest bear species.